NYC BASIC: Statue of Liberty visit- or just the view

Before you begin-consider how much time you have: The estimated time for visiting both Liberty Island AND Ellis Island, including wait time for ferries, etc., is about 5 hours. For visiting just Liberty Island, including wait time for ferries: 3 hours. The actual ferry ride to Liberty Island is only 15 minutes--but the wait on line to get on ferry can be over two hours on a hot summer day. And if you have tickets for the Statue platform, crown etc., you will be spending pretty much all day just getting there, taking the tour, and coming back. So adjust time accordingly. Security is tight for inside the SOL and can take up even more time.Thus the 3 hours estimated time for visiting the SOL itself. 

I would say pretty much everyone who comes to NYC wants to see the Statue of Liberty. And rightfully so. After almost 40 years in NYC,  I still get goosebumps when I see it. But with popularity comes effort—and, as with the Empire State Building, it can take a long time to actually get into the physical location. You need to allow a great deal of time for actually visiting both these structures, because they are heavily visited (especially in summertime), and it takes a great deal of time to navigate the ferry access or the building access.

The fact is, if you are willing to forego actually being on Liberty Island, where the Statue is located, you can still enjoy the view of it from the water, and still get the joy and the photos--but you don't have to deal with the massive crowds and herding that are involved with getting in and around these two most heavily tourist-ed sights. 

Here is how to enjoy the SOL from both up-close and afar: 

HOW TO SEE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY FROM WATER, WITHOUT ACTUALLY GOING TO LIBERTY ISLAND

So: If you are willing to forego the Liberty Island experience itself but still want to see the Statue (HIGHLY recommended--it is beautiful and a must-see even if from afar), it is, first of all, visible if small from any area in lower Manhattan/ Battery Park (Battery park is the name for the beautiful area along the Hudson River that runs alongside the west side of downtown Manhattan, where you can also access the 9/11 Memorial). But if you want to go on the water and get closer, here are some: 

Ferry/ boat options for viewing the Statue of Liberty: Here, you can still get near the Statue (as opposed to going all the way  to Liberty Island, getting off, walking around and getting back on). You can, for example, take the Staten Island Ferry  (about 25 minutes each way--and yes, you need to get off the ferry and get back on in order to go back to Manhattan, they won't let you just stay on for the return trip). The SIF takes you near enough for some great photo ops--but you do not of course land on the Island itself (you land on Staten Island—but can turn right back around and get back on the ferry to Manhattan).  

You can also take a Circle Line Cruise  --the Liberty ($19) or Landmark  ($35) cruises (make sure to look for coupons on the website for $5 off) will   take you around or near the Statue without the time needed for stopping, getting off, and getting back on (unless you are visiting the crown or pedestal the Liberty Island visit may be more than you need).

HOW TO VISIT LIBERTY ISLAND/ STATUE ITSELF

The Statue of Liberty is run by the National Park Service and has an official website. The Statue itself is on an island, and you must have advance reservations if you want to visit the  pedestal (a few available the day-of, but are usually gone before the first ferry departs) or the crown (can be sold out up to 6 months in advance) . "Grounds only" tickets are available when the pedestal and crown tickets are taken. 

To get tickets to the Island go to:  www.statuecruises.com . The ferries leave from Battery Park in NYC. Generally they leave every half hour from 9:30AM- 3:30PM (schedules differ according to season).  

To get to the Island you need to get to the ferry slip--take the #1 to South Ferry (you need to be in first 3 subway cars). or 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. 

In terms of time it takes: If you visit Ellis Island also it adds a lot more time to your visit. Ferry service time to SOL is about 15 minutes. This does not include the waiting in line and security screening time to get on the ferry, though. The boat ride to both Liberty and Ellis Island is about 1 hour and 15 minutes if you do NOT get off. As per the SOL website: "If you visit both islands the time depends on the time you spend on both islands. There can be long waits which can cause delays. Arrive early, especially if you have a Monument Pass or Crown Pass reservation."